NASHUA — Police say five teenagers broke into Fairgrounds Elementary School to steal laptop computers this week but were caught after the burglary alarm was activated.

Authorities responded to the school at 37 Blanchard St. around 9:40 p.m. Monday and noticed several broken windows and young people inside the school, said Lt. Francis Sullivan.

“There were a couple of windows broken. We believe that is how they gained entry,” said Sullivan, adding the group of juveniles fled when police arrived.

Patrol officers and detectives searched the area and located four boys ages 14 to 16 nearby. Those boys were arrested for their alleged involvement in the burglary, and a fifth boy, 15, was arrested Tuesday.

Police located several stolen laptop computers that were discarded alongside a road near school property, according to Sullivan.

Aside from the few windows that were broken, police said there were no other disruptions to the inside of the school building.

“It is an unfortunate incident. But fortunately, many of the items have been recovered, but not all of them,” said assistant principal Tracey Cassady. “The police were very responsive.”

Chris Lessard, assistant director for safety and security, responded to the scene Monday night to secure the two broken windows.

“All of the damage has been fixed,” Lessard said Wednesday, adding about seven laptop computers and one desktop computer were reported missing. About six of them have since been recovered, he said.

Police have not yet received a monetary estimate for the damage at the school, and school officials said that is still being determined.

According to Sullivan, three of the male juveniles allegedly entered the school with the intent to steal computers, while two other juveniles remained outside the school to act as lookouts.

After their arrests, all five boys were released to their parents. Three of them were charged with delinquent child burglary, a felony, and the two boys who remained outside were charged with delinquent child criminal liability to the conduct of another to commit burglary, also a felony.